Getting started
How to Open a DBF File Without Visual FoxPro
Identify the DBF dialect, preserve companion memo files and inspect legacy data safely in a modern browser.
DBF knowledge base
Practical DBF, FoxPro and xBase Guides
These field guides explain how legacy DBF files actually work: table headers, memo companions, code pages, exports, recovery and migration. Every procedure favors a read-only working copy and local processing with DBF Viewer Pro so that business data stays under your control.
Technical guides written for real legacy data
The articles are organized around practical problems rather than keyword variations. Start with file identification, then move to repair, export or migration.
Export and migration
How to Convert DBF to CSV Without Uploading Your Data
Export legacy tables locally and avoid the common encoding, delimiter and type-conversion traps found in DBF-to-CSV workflows.
File formats
DBF, FPT and DBT Files Explained
Learn why a DBF may open while its notes remain blank, and how FoxPro and dBASE memo files belong together.
Troubleshooting
How to Recover Missing FoxPro Memo Fields
A non-destructive checklist for recovering notes and long text referenced by Visual FoxPro DBF tables.
Data quality
Fix DBF Encoding: CP850, CP1252 and Accented Characters
Use language-driver bytes, known words and controlled exports to distinguish CP850, CP1252 and other legacy encodings.
Legacy systems
How to Open Legacy Clipper DBF Files
Preserve the original file set, identify the table dialect and extract records from old Clipper systems safely.
Troubleshooting
How to Diagnose a Corrupted DBF Header
A forensic, non-destructive approach to invalid record counts, broken field descriptors and truncated DBF files.
Performance
Working With Large DBF Files in a Browser
Practical performance techniques for inspecting large legacy tables without freezing the browser or duplicating data unnecessarily.
File formats
dBASE, FoxPro and Clipper DBF Differences
The DBF extension describes a family of formats, not one universal specification. This guide shows the differences that matter.
Export and migration
How to Clean DBF Data for Excel
Build a repeatable export checklist so account numbers, dates, decimals and text survive the move from DBF to Excel.
Security and privacy
How to Handle Sensitive DBF Files Safely
A privacy-first procedure for payroll, customer, medical or administrative DBF archives.
File formats
What Is a DBF File? Structure, History and Modern Uses
A practical introduction to DBF headers, fields, fixed-length records, deleted flags, memo companions and the systems that still produce them.
File formats
DBF Field Types Reference: Character, Numeric, Date, Memo and More
Learn how DBF field descriptors represent text, numbers, dates, logical states, memos and Visual FoxPro-specific binary values.
Troubleshooting
Deleted DBF Records: Flags, RECALL, PACK and Safe Recovery
A non-destructive explanation of deletion flags, filtered views, RECALL, PACK and the evidence needed before restoring legacy rows.
File formats
DBF Index Files Explained: CDX, IDX and NTX
Compare CDX, IDX and NTX indexes, distinguish physical row order from indexed order and preserve key expressions during migration.
Export and migration
A Practical DBF Migration Plan for SQLite or MySQL
Move beyond a one-click export: inventory relationships, map types, validate row counts and preserve a reversible audit trail.
Our recovery principles
Never experiment on the only copyPreserve the DBF and every companion file before inspection.
Keep data localThe viewer parses files in your browser; it does not upload their records.
Validate, do not assumeRecord counts, encodings and exported totals should always be reconciled.